Benjamin franklin upton



" NITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN UPTON, OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.

TENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,956, dated October 17, 1893. Application filed December 9, 1892. Serial No. 454,609. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN UPTON, of St. Augustine, in the county of St. Johns and State of Florida, have invented a new and Improved Tent, of which the followmg is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in tents, and especially to an improvement in shelter tents.

Its object is to construct a tent in which one or two hammocks may be suspended, and in which the hammocks may be protected from the weather on either side, and whereby further, when desired, the tent may be practically thrown open to permit currents of air to pass over the hammocks suspended therein.

Another object of the invention is to construct a tent especially adapted for purposes of camping out, in which the person occupying the tent need not lie upon the ground but may rest comfortably some distance from the ground, and whereby further the occupants may experience the full benefit of a fire built adjacent to the tent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tent which may be expeditiously set up or struck, or may be folded, when not in use, to occupy but a small space, and whereby further the tent will weigh but little when completely folded, yet will be amply strong to support and shelter two occupants at least.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the hammocks or berths in the tent that one will be above the other, thereby enabling each occupant to be entirely independent of the other, and each occupant will have a sufficient quota of fresh air.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar'figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved tent. Fig. 2 is avertical section taken through the tent, illustrating the berths therein. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of one of the uprights and a portion of the anchorage tackle; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a tie block employed in connection with the anchorage tackle.

In carrying out the invention two uprights A, are employed, arranged at suitable distances apart, one upright being made to face the other. These uprights are made in the shape of an X, comprising two members 10 and 11, pivotally attached, one upon the other, whereby the members may be folded one upon I the other, or may be carried outward to form a fork at top and bottom of their pivot points, the outward movement of the members being limited'by a check rope 12, or the equivalent thereof, preferably connecting the two members at their upper ends.

A recess or slot 13, is produced in the upper end of each member of each upright, and an anchor post 14:, is located back of each upright, the anchor post having a decided inclination, as shown in Fig. 1, the anchor post being driven in the ground and connected by links 15, or their equivalents, with auxiliary anchor posts 16, preferably of much less length than the main posts 14. These posts are adapted as anchors for the tent, but when trees are located at proper distances apart the trees may be utilized as anchors and the posts 14 and 16 need not be used.

In addition to the uprights A the tent may be said to consist of two hammocks or berths 17 and 18, a storm curtain 19 and a canopy 20, together with posts 21, for the support of the canopy and hammock ropes for attachment to whatever anchor employed. The hammocks or berths 17 and 18 are adapted to be located one above the other, although but one may be used if in practice it is found desirable. The hammocks or berths are preferably made of canvas, stiffened at the ends by rods or bars 22, and ends of ropes 23, are secured to the end bars of the upper hammock and these hammock ropes are passed through the recesses 13 in the top of the uprights A, the ropes 23 being passed also through apertures in clamp blocks 2 said clamp blocks being located outside of the uprights and some distance frornthe lower ends of the said hammock ropes 23, as shown in Fig. 1. The clamp blocks are adjustable upon the ropes and are intended to counteract the downward pressure of the hammock, and bring the weight directly against and parallel with the upright, thus permitting a small fork to be used.

' A tie block 25, shown in detail in Fig. 4, is attached to each anchor post 14, by means of a rope 26 or its equivalent, or to whatever support is employed as an anchor, the rope 26, being passed through an eye 27, formed in one end of the tie block, the said block near its opposite end being provided with a recess 28 in one of its side edges. Theblock having been connected with the anchor posts, a second rope 29, which maybe termed a tie rope, is attached one to the outer end of each hammock rope 23 of the upper hammock; and the said tie ropes are then passed downward through the recesses 28 in the tie blocks, and by frictional engagement with the walls of the recesses in the tie blocks the tie ropes will be held firmly in engagement with them. This by simply removing the tie ropes from the recesses 28, the hammock 17 may be raised or lowered, as the occupant may desire.

The lower hammock 18, as has heretofore been stated, is immediately beneath the upper hammock 17, and the lower hammock is provided with sling ropes 30 at its ends, these ropes corresponding to the ropes 23, employed in connection with the upper hammock. The hammock or sling ropes 30 of the lower hammock are passed through clamp blocks 31, and the ends of the lower hammock ropes are connected with tie ropes 32, and these tie ropes are passed through tie blocks 33 in like manner as are the ropes of the upper hammock, the tie blocks 33, being secured or attached to the anchor posts 14 by means of suitable ropes or chains 34. Thus it will be observed that each hammock can be raised or lowered independently whenever their occupants may so desire.

In order to shield the occupant of thelower hammock from the weather the storm curtain 19, is stretched along the weather side of the tent. This storm curtain is attached at its ends by ropes 35 to the standards or uprights A, and centrally theupper portion of the storm curtain is connected with the canopy 20 by means of a rope 36, as shown in Fig. 2, or the equivalent thereof may be used, while the lower ends and also the central portion are attached to stakes 37, driven in the ground, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The canopy 20, is of canvas, and at each end it is stiffened or strengthened by a rod or pole 38. At the central portion of the front and rear of the canopy, cords 39, are secured,which cords are passed over pulleys in the upper ends of the posts 21, as shown in Fig. 2, and the said ropes may be attached to the posts in any approved manner. ihe posts are located one at each side of the hammocks, and the cords 39, are within reach of the occupant of the upper hammock. Thus, whenever it is found desirable the canopy may be'shifted either to the right or to the left side of the hammocks without the occupants leaving the same, and as the canopy may be given any desired slant, and may be, as shown in the drawings, so fixed as to complete the shelter of not only the upper but also thelowerhammock, a perfect tent is provided, and one wherein the occupants need not lie upon the ground and ample ventilation will be ob tained combined with thorough protection.

The hammock ropes 30 of the lower hammock may be made to pass overpins or studs 40, located upon the inner edges of the uprights A, as shown in Fig. 2, and a series of these is provided in order that the lower hammock may be swung high or low as the occupant may desire.

It is very evident that when a tent is constructed as above described it may be conveniently and expeditiouslyset up or knocked down, and the parts of the tent may be folded and wrapped together until they will occupy but little space in transportation, and may even be readily carried in a canoe. It is also evident that when parties occupy the hammocks in the improved tent not only is ample ventilation afforded and perfect protection, but one person is entirely independent of the other and in the event the weather is very cold and a fire is built close to the tent, the heat on ascending will pass over and beneath the occupants in the hammocks, and said occupants will have much more benefit from the fire than when lying upon the ground or upon a couch very close to the ground.

The reinforced edges of the canopy are connected preferably by ropes 42, or their equivalents, either with the uprights A or with the hammock ropes of either the upper or lower hammock; preferably, however, the connection is made with the ropes or slings of the upper hammock.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a tent, the combination, with uprights, an anchorage connected therewith, and berths swung between the uprights, of a canopy, and means for shifting the canopy over and in direction of either side of the swinging berths, the adjusting mechanism of the canopy leading down to the berths, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a tent, the combination, with uprights, an anchorage connected therewith,and a berth swung between the uprights, of supports located at the sides of the berth, a canopy located between the supports, and a hoistiug and adjusting mechanism connected with opposite sides of the canopy and independently operated, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a tent, the combination, with uprights, an anchorage connected therewith, and a berth adjustably swung between the uprights, of supports located at the sides of the berth, a canopy located over the berth and between the supports, a lifting and adjusting mechanism connecting opposite sides of the IIO canopy with the supports, said mechanism being capable of operation from the berth, and a storm curtain removably connected with the canopy, substantially as and for the 5 purpose set forth.

4. In a tent, the combination, with uprights, an anchorage connected therewith, and berths adjustably swung between the uprights, one below the other, of a canopy ad- :0 j ustably located over the berths, and an adj usting mechanism connected with opposite sides of the canopy and capable of being operated from the berths, whereby the canopy may be thrown in direction of either side of the berths, as and for the purpose specified. r 5

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN UPTON.

Witnesses:

O. D. SEAVEY, C. M. FULLER. 

